****************************************************************************** Title: Kindergarten Sabbath School Program, Nov. 6, 1999 From: NAD Children’s Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders) Date Completed: September 15, 1999 Abstract: Activities to use as a supplement to help teach the lesson, PLANTING SEEDS ****************************************************************************** Lesson Aim: We need to open our hearts to Jesus’ words. Memory Verse: “A man reaps what he sows.” Gal. 6:7, NIV GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - SEED SAMPLES (A primarily visual & auditory activity) Materials needed: Several different kinds of fruit, vegetable & flower seeds (wild ones from outside are fine or buy fruits and vegetables and take the seeds out if packets are not available this time of year.) Pictures showing the mature foods or flowers of the seeds you have chosen Clear plastic tumblers WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Put each of the different seeds into clear plastic tumblers. Line the tumblers up on a low table or across the floor. WHAT THE CHILDREN DO: Ask the children which tumbler contains each item. (For example: Which glass has the seed which could grow into a peach tree? Which glass has the seed that could grow into a thistle?) Have the children come up and point to their answer. Tell them the correct answer and show them a picture of the mature plant or food. In order for seeds to grow, what has to happen? They have to be planted. In our Bible story today a man called a sower is busy planting some seeds. Let’s see what happens to them. GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - BIBLE STORY OBJECT LESSON (A multi-sensory activity) Materials needed: Egg cartons (cut so each child has a section with four cups) Potting soil Small pebbles Thorns and thistles Small chunks of hard packed dirt OR clay Plastic spoons styrofoam cups or clear glass tumblers WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Place some potting soil in a cup, the small pebbles in another cup, the hard packed dirt or clay in a third cup and the thorns and thistles in a fourth cup. Cut the egg cartons apart into sections with four cups to a section. Make a section for each child. WHAT THE CHILDREN DO: Give each child an egg carton section. As you tell the story, let them re-create it by adding the various “types of soil” to the egg carton holes. If it is possible to obtain any seed, give them some to plant in the hole with the good soil. Leave the cartons at Sabbath school to watch for any progress in growth. (Conditions with sunlight and water at this time of year will have to be just right in order for anything to happen.) GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - MEMORY VERSE REVIEW (A multi-sensory activity) Materials needed: Several pairs of nylons Birdseed Twisty ties (the kind that go around bags at the grocery store) Plastic spoons Bowls (one small one per each two children) Bibles Scissors WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Cut the nylons into approximately 6" lengths. Pour the birdseed into the bowls. WHAT THE CHILDREN DO: Show the children where the memory verse is found in the Bible. Others will see by our actions what has been stored in our hearts. Have each child cut open his nylon. They spoon a small amount of birdseed onto each opened nylon. Then they fasten both ends shut with a twisty tie. If you throw out grass seed you hope that grass will come up. If you throw out birdseed you hope that birds will eat it. If we let Jesus put His words and His actions in our hearts we can know that His loveliness will grow inside of us. Sit in a circle on the floor. Pass one of the birdseed packets around the circle. The teacher shuts his/her eyes. When he/she opens their eyes whoever has the packet in their possession repeats the memory verse. Encourage the children to share the birdseed with their feathered friends when they get home. ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - HEART PLANTING (A multi-sensory activity) Materials needed: Red or pink construction paper (one sheet per child) Plain white paper (one sheet per child) Scissors Glue WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Make each child a red or pink construction paper heart and a heart of the same size on the piece of plain white paper. On the construction paper heart cut two small doors that can fold open. Print the following texts so each child has a copy of each one. Print them on small strips of paper that can be rolled or folded up. 1. Be ye kind one to another 2. Honor thy father and thy mother 3. Lie not one to another 4. Beloved, let us love one another WHAT THE CHILDREN DO: Give each child a construction paper heart and a plain white paper heart. Have them glue around the edges of the plain white paper heart and lay the construction paper heart on top. Allow to dry for a few minutes while the children roll or fold up the strips of paper with texts on them. Read each text and talk about why they are good words or ideas to plant in our hearts. Have each child add each of the four texts to their hearts by tucking them inside the doors. Encourage the children to take the papers out of their hearts this week and ask an adult to read them. Remind them to ask Jesus to put His words and thoughts into their hearts.